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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






2. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






3. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






4. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






5. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






6. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






7. The principal note of a triad.






8. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






9. The unit of musical rhythm.






10. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






11. A group singing in unison.






12. The unit of musical rhythm.






13. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






14. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






15. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






16. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






17. A short light musical drama.






18. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






19. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






20. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






21. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






22. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






23. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






24. One of the two modes of the tonal system. The minor mode can be identified by the dark - melancholic mood.






25. Singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm. Collected during the Reign of Pope Gregory VIII for psalms and other other parts of the church service.






26. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






27. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






28. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






29. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






30. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






31. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






32. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.






33. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






34. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






35. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






36. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






37. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






38. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






39. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






40. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






41. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






42. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






43. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






44. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






45. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






46. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






47. A string of chords played in succession.






48. A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase - either in the middle or the end of a composition.






49. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






50. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.